Food additives Introduction of ferrous sulfate
Ferrous sulfate is a common food additive, mainly used to improve the color and taste of food. Due to its redox effect, ferrous sulfate plays an important role in food processing. This article will provide a detailed description of the properties, applications, and safety of ferrous sulfate.
1. Characteristics of ferrous sulfate.
Ferrous sulfate is an inorganic salt with the chemical formula FeSO4·7H2O. It is light green or yellow-green, hygroscopic, soluble in water and slightly soluble in ethanol. Ferrous sulfate has strong reducing properties and can react with oxygen in the air, thereby preventing food oxidation. At the same time, ferrous sulfate can also complexate with tannins, pigments and other substances in food to improve the color of food.
Second, the application of ferrous sulfate.
1.Baked goods such as bread and pastries: In baked goods, ferrous sulfate is mainly used as a dough improver and nutritional fortifier. It can react with amino acids, proteins and other components in flour to improve the elasticity and ductility of the dough, making bread, pastries and other baked goods more soft and delicious. At the same time, ferrous sulfate can also supplement the iron in food and improve the nutritional value of food.
2.Meat products: In the processing of meat products, ferrous sulfate acts as a coloring agent to give meat products a vivid red color. At the same time, ferrous sulfate can also react with myoglobin in meat, improve the water holding capacity and tenderness of meat products, and make meat more delicious.
3.Fruit juices and jams: In fruit juices and jams, ferrous sulphate is mainly used to reduce oxygen radicals in fruits and prevent oxidative browning of fruits during processing and storage. At the same time, ferrous sulfate can also react with ingredients such as pectin to improve the consistency and stability of jam.
3. The safety of ferrous sulfate.
Although ferrous sulfate is a commonly used food additive, its use is severely limited. According to China's food safety regulations, the maximum amount of ferrous sulfate used in food is 025g/kg。Under normal dosage, ferrous sulfate will not cause harm to the human body. However, excessive intake of ferrous sulfate may cause digestive discomfort such as diarrhea and nausea. Therefore, when using ferrous sulfate, it should be added in strict accordance with the specified amount to ensure food safety.
In conclusion, ferrous sulfate, as an important food additive, plays an important role in improving food quality and nutritional value. When using ferrous sulfate, relevant regulations and standards should be followed to ensure that its use and safety meet the requirements, so as to provide consumers with healthy and delicious food. At the same time, for food processing enterprises and consumers, understanding the characteristics and application range of ferrous sulfate can help to better select and use food additives. Nutritional fortifiers